Page:The Heimskringla; or, Chronicle of the Kings of Norway Vol 2.djvu/27

 KINGS OF NORWAY. 19 expedition; and in it there were 200 men at the very sagavii. least. Erling had always at home on his farm 30 slaves, Chapter besides other serving-people. He gave his slaves a of the certain day's work; but after it he gave them leisure, if^ 3 and leave that each should work in the twilight and Skiaigsson. at night for himself, and as he pleased. He gave them arable land to sow corn in, and let them apply their crops to their own use. He laid upon each a certain quantity of labour to work themselves free by doing it; and there were many who bought their freedom in this way in one year, or in the second year, and all who had any luck could make them- selves free within three years. With this money he bought other slaves; and to some of his freed people he showed how to work in the herring fishery; to others he showed some useful handicraft; and some cleared his outfields, and set up houses. He helped all to prosperity. When Earl Eric had ruled over Norway for twelve Chapter years, there came a message to him from his brother- of Earl ' in-law King Canute, the Danish king, that he should Eric * go with him on an expedition westward to England; for Eric was very celebrated for his campaigns, as he had gained the victory in the two hardest engage- ments which had ever been fought in the north coun- tries. The one was that in which the earls Hakon and Eric fought with the Jomsburg vikings; the other that in which Earl Eric fought with King Olaf Tryg- gvesson. Thord Kolbeinsson speaks of this : — " A song of praise Again I raise. To the earl bold The word is told, That Knut the Brave His aid would crave: The earl, I knew, To friend stands true." c 2